Prince William to study bespoke agricultural course

Prince William will go back to school in the New Year to learn about the issues affecting farming and the countryside in the UK.

The Duke of Cambridge will start the bespoke course next week in the historic city of his namesake.

The 31-year-old is said to be “very much looking forward to it.”

PHOTO FOR GALLERY

“The executive education programme of seminars, lectures and meetings will draw on the strengths of academics across the university,” a Kensington Palace spokesperson said. “It will start in early January and run until mid-March.

“The course has been designed to help provide the Duke with an understanding of contemporary issues affecting agricultural business and rural communities in the United Kingdom.”

The new dad, who completed his degree in art history at St Andrews University, will have 18 to 20 hours of lectures, seminars and meetings a week and is likely to have essays to complete and to make field trips.

The former RAF search and rescue helicopter’s course is run by the Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership (CPSL), an institution within the world-famous Cambridge University’s School of Technology, which has the Prince of Wales as its patron.

He is expected to live in the city part of the time during his course but will still carry out a number of royal engagements over the coming months.

The costs for the course will be met privately.

The programme does not lead to a formal qualification but is thought to feature continual assessment.

William left RAF Valley in Anglesey in September to move into his new Kensington Palace family home with Kate and George.

The Prince is now focusing on his royal duties and his charity work , and at the time was “considering a number of options for public service, a further announcement on which will follow in due course,” the statement said.

He will “continue to support the work of The Queen and the Royal Family through a programme of official engagements, both at home and overseas, with The Duchess of Cambridge,” and over the next 12 months, will “work closely with the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.”

The Duke’s plans to “expand his work in the field of conservation particularly in respect of endangered species”, and will “continue to expand his charities on issues relating to children and young people, veterans and serving members of the Armed Forces.”